In an unprecedented move, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is ordering lie detector tests for some of its employees — following multiple high-level information leaks that have rocked the agency.
At the center of the controversy is FEMA, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, where several staffers have reportedly been told to undergo polygraph exams as part of an investigation into unauthorized disclosures of internal communications.
According to sources familiar with the probe, DHS officials became alarmed after confidential agency documents and sensitive discussions began appearing in public forums and media. While the exact nature of the leaks hasn’t been officially confirmed, insiders suggest the content involved personnel decisions, emergency planning, and political communications.
The leak was considered so serious that it triggered a formal internal investigation, with senior DHS leadership authorizing the use of polygraphs — a tactic rarely used in non-intelligence divisions of the government.
“This is not a routine measure,” one source told CNN. “They’re treating this as a major breach of internal trust.”
The leak investigation has sent a chill through FEMA offices, where employees now find themselves under intense scrutiny. Some staffers, reportedly unaware of the investigation before being summoned for polygraph testing, are said to be shaken and frustrated, feeling they are being punished for internal dysfunction.
Civil liberties groups have criticized the use of polygraphs, calling them “invasive” and “unreliable,” especially when used on employees not involved in law enforcement or intelligence work.
“This sends the wrong message,” said one union representative. “You don’t build trust in your workforce by treating them like criminals.”
DHS has not officially commented on the scope of the leak or the number of employees subjected to testing, but a spokesperson acknowledged the agency takes “all breaches of internal policy and confidentiality extremely seriously.”
The situation reflects broader tensions within the federal government over leaks, whistleblowers, and internal transparency. As the investigation unfolds, the spotlight is now on DHS leadership — and whether this aggressive approach will restore control, or further damage morale inside one of the nation’s most critical emergency response agencies.
Be First to Comment